Motorhome facilities and rules

jb99 replied on 16/09/2021 12:05

Posted on 16/09/2021 12:05

We've just returned from a tour of mid and south Wales in our motorhome.  We stayed at a number different locations: pubs, public car parks, private camp sites and one night at the C&MC site in St Davids.  We have paid our membership fees for many years, but in practice we haven't stayed on a Club site very often, and not since the name change and rebranding.  So we expected great improvements for motorhomes. 

We arrived rather early, but were warmly welcomed by the lady on reception who unexpectedly checked us in before the official time. 

I was rather confused by the parking rules, but looked at the way adjacent vehicles were arranged and tried to imitate them.  Since our motorhome is less than 2.5m wide, versus a car/caravan/awning measuring maybe 7m, it was easy to maintain the 6m separation from our neighbours.  However, apparently I had picked the wrong corner to go next to the white post.  This was explained to me that evening, but since we were leaving the next morning the very friendly warden said not to bother moving.  Fine, I'll be more careful if we visit again.

The next morning, there was a queue of motorhomes at the only grey waste point, so we decided that, as we only had a small amount of waste we would empty the toilet cassette at the service point then just fill up with fresh water and leave.  So, I pulled up next to the adjacent service point and attached my hose connector to the threaded tap.  Shortly after, a  different warden who was maintaining the grass, came along and said that motorhomes weren't allowed to use the service points and indeed there was a notice that said this that I hadn't seen.  He said that this was because filling a motorhome takes a lot of time so other people would have to wait.  I asked why I had to wait rather than other members and although a 100 litre motorhome tank will obviously take longer than a 50 litre rolling caravan tank, there were three other service points on the site.  No! Jobsworth was adamant and claimed that it was a health and safety risk (which is hard to understand). 

According to various comments on Facebook, these is just a couple of many petty rule enforcement incidents that are alienating motorhome owners.  I really think that if the Club wants to encourage this massively increasing sector of the market, they need to learn the differences between motorhomes and towed caravans.

So, the rebranding was clearly just a marketing exercise and we will have to seriously consider whether to renew our membership next year.

Takethedogalong replied on 26/09/2021 11:31

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:16 by

No idea how motorhomers ever manage 40 years ago.

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:31

Bucket, and Chuck it back when we had our camper van. Not many had bathrooms to be honest. That’s the difference. Ours certainly didn’t. It’s why we joined Club originally in the 1980’s, and so young😁 Rare to find anyone mid 20’s back then. Tiny sink, straight down to a bucket, bucket to nearest drain. It was strip wash on a basic Site, shower block on a Club site. We were viewed with deep suspicion, being young, travelling with a big Rottweiler, and not in a “proper” van. We still swear most of Site Staff back then had retired from Prison Service. Interrogation and demonstration every time we arrived on a Club Site. 😂 More McKays than Barrowclough’s, definitely🤣

 

DavidKlyne replied on 26/09/2021 11:39

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:39

The newly installed motorhome waste points on many Club sites are fine by me and I don't quite understand the implied criticism of their design, could someone explain? As far as I am concerned I just drive up to them, park the waste exit over the grill and open the tap and wait for the tank to empty. Picture of waste point at the New Forest Centenary Campsite.

David

JVB66 replied on 26/09/2021 11:50

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:39 by DavidKlyne

The newly installed motorhome waste points on many Club sites are fine by me and I don't quite understand the implied criticism of their design, could someone explain? As far as I am concerned I just drive up to them, park the waste exit over the grill and open the tap and wait for the tank to empty. Picture of waste point at the New Forest Centenary Campsite.

David

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:50

Its because it is this club , some will Imply that what ever this club tries to doundecided

young thomas replied on 26/09/2021 12:32

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:39 by DavidKlyne

The newly installed motorhome waste points on many Club sites are fine by me and I don't quite understand the implied criticism of their design, could someone explain? As far as I am concerned I just drive up to them, park the waste exit over the grill and open the tap and wait for the tank to empty. Picture of waste point at the New Forest Centenary Campsite.

David

Posted on 26/09/2021 12:32

David, Ive used plenty of club sites over the last 18 months and I can't say I've come across one like this....Broadway perhaps?

even with a design like this (as opposed to the one TW describes, which is pretty well 'de rigeur' elsewhere) is that this one requires a pretty accurate placement t of the van over the drain....sometimes it's not easy to gauge the drain within 18"....so perhaps co-driver has to help lining up...all adds to the time...

as TW says, the same sort of drain, or even just a hole, that has the surrounding area gently sloped allows a much less accurate placement yet results in all water going down the drain, rather than some folk being a tad inaccurate on one as in David's photo, and missing by a couple of inches might lead to 100 ltry's of waste water running down the road...undecided

Tinwheeler replied on 26/09/2021 12:55

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:39 by DavidKlyne

The newly installed motorhome waste points on many Club sites are fine by me and I don't quite understand the implied criticism of their design, could someone explain? As far as I am concerned I just drive up to them, park the waste exit over the grill and open the tap and wait for the tank to empty. Picture of waste point at the New Forest Centenary Campsite.

David

Posted on 26/09/2021 12:55

The only problem with that MHSP, David, is that the ground is not dished towards the drain. There is no room for error and any run off, as can be seen in your pic, heads for the road. It’s a vast improvement over needing to hoist up the back breaking manhole covers though.

Tinwheeler replied on 26/09/2021 12:58

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:02 by ADP1963

Blimey I never realised there were so many issues with Motor Home /Campervans and water. some time ago there was a lot of ridicule about Aquaroll's, surely they are less trouble than the various methods people are readily describing they go to manage their stay at a site. Whether it be filling up or emptying water it does seem to me to be a bit of pain in the backside.

Posted on 26/09/2021 12:58

Believe me, it's not nearly as much a pain as faffing around with water containers. In fact, it’s a doddle but there’s always room for improvement.

JVB66 replied on 26/09/2021 13:07

Posted on 26/09/2021 12:32 by young thomas

David, Ive used plenty of club sites over the last 18 months and I can't say I've come across one like this....Broadway perhaps?

even with a design like this (as opposed to the one TW describes, which is pretty well 'de rigeur' elsewhere) is that this one requires a pretty accurate placement t of the van over the drain....sometimes it's not easy to gauge the drain within 18"....so perhaps co-driver has to help lining up...all adds to the time...

as TW says, the same sort of drain, or even just a hole, that has the surrounding area gently sloped allows a much less accurate placement yet results in all water going down the drain, rather than some folk being a tad inaccurate on one as in David's photo, and missing by a couple of inches might lead to 100 ltry's of waste water running down the road...undecided

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:07

As posted ,  if the site is on a short lease, as quite a few seem to be ,I would not expect any company to spend a not cheap remedy to cater for one section of the community 

We have also used quite a few club sites and seen the type as in DKs picture on numerous sites

Clumber park , Hawes  ,Cayton Village   Beachwood Grange,  Alderstead Heath to name those we have used recently

SteveL replied on 26/09/2021 13:07

Posted on 26/09/2021 11:39 by DavidKlyne

The newly installed motorhome waste points on many Club sites are fine by me and I don't quite understand the implied criticism of their design, could someone explain? As far as I am concerned I just drive up to them, park the waste exit over the grill and open the tap and wait for the tank to empty. Picture of waste point at the New Forest Centenary Campsite.

David

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:07

I don’t take any issue with the grid sort in your photo David. Six elements and away from the curb means they accommodate near and offside discharges, even in a one way road. I assume the ridiculous five element ones at Clumber,  hard up against a wall,  will be replaced with something better during the refurbishment. They are not as easy to use as the one TW mentioned,  but as they are often in high pedestrian traffic areas the design is less of a trip hazard. Ideally they would be in an area of there own close to the exit and then the dished sort could be used.

Tinwheeler replied on 26/09/2021 13:15

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:07 by SteveL

I don’t take any issue with the grid sort in your photo David. Six elements and away from the curb means they accommodate near and offside discharges, even in a one way road. I assume the ridiculous five element ones, hard up against a wall, at Clumber will be replaced with something better during the refurbishment. They are not as easy to use as the one TW mentioned,  but as they are often in high pedestrian traffic areas the design is less of a trip hazard. Ideally they would be in an area of there own close to the exit and then the dished sort could be used.

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:15

I wish I’d taken a photo now! The one I described was placed at the end of a facility block and there was no need for any pedestrian to set foot on it 👍🏻

Another good one (possibly the very best) is on Wood Farm AS where a whole area is set aside near the entrance as a whopping great easy to use MHSP.

SteveL replied on 26/09/2021 13:16

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:07 by JVB66

As posted if the site is on a short lease, as quite a few seem to be ,I would not expect any company to spend a not cheap remedy to cater for one section of the community 

We have also used quite a few club sites and seen the type as in DKs picture on numerous sites

Posted on 26/09/2021 13:16

I wouldn’t have thought the dished sort would be significantly more expensive to construct than the grid type in DK’s photo. I suspect the main reason they are not used is there positioning, often close to or outside the facilities. If the lease is short replacing the solid covers with gridded ones would be a cheap justifiable fix.

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

Book a late escape

There's still availability at many popular UK Club campsites - find your perfect pitch today for a last minute trip!

Book now
Woman sitting in camping chair by Wastwater in the Lake District with her two dogs and picnic blanket

Follow us on Facebook

Follow the Caravan and Motorhome Club via our official Facebook page for latest news, holiday ideas, events, activities and special offers.

Photo of Wast Water, Lake District by Sue Peace
Visit Facebook